This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of patients with HIV/AIDS at an outpatient service, to analyze the infection stage on the patient's first return, lethality and program evasion. A descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was carried out during nursing appointments with 1837 clients. Most participants were men (1.71 men / 1 woman), between 30 and 39 years old (46.8%); residents in São Paulo (86.5%); low education level (76.3%). Most women were living with partners (45.4%), whereas most men were single (53.3%). The main category of exposure was heterosexual behavior (83.5% among men and 71.2% among women). Both male and female participations discovered their HIV/AIDS positive condition in advanced stages (57%). Opportunistic infection levels were significantly higher (p< 0.05) among men. For men and women, the predominant opportunistic infection was tuberculosis (26.2%). CD4<350 results on the first return were significantly higher (p = 0.04) among women. Death risk was greater among women (OR =1.72), whereas the risk of treatment evasion was greater among men (OR = 1.72).
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; ambulatory care; epidemiology